The Best at the Diabetic Sock Store

176 million people around the world have diabetes. Diabetes affects multiple body systems and often times the feet and legs are at a high risk of loss of sensation (neuropathy), reduced circulation, foot ulcers, delayed wound healing, and infection. In fact, more amputations result from diabetes complications than accidents. In order to help prevent such complications from occurring, a daily foot care routine and a properly fitting pair of seamless diabetic socks are essential.

The Diabetic Sock Store is pleased to offer SmartKnit Seamless Diabetic Socks. These patented socks are designed to meet the unique foot care needs of people with diabetes and are unlike any other socks available. These comfortable seamless socks reduce pressure and irritation on the toes; while the patented form-fitting design ensures that the socks fit like a second skin and won't wrinkle or bunch. The patented Halo Top(TM) design also ensures that there are no elastic bands at the tops of the socks. This design helps prevent the socks from cutting into the leg, causing painful indentations and reduced circulation.

"I see first-hand the serious foot care issues that diabetics and their healthcare providers deal with and the right protective footwear really can make all the difference", said Nancy Elftman, CO, Cped, and Nationally Recognized Diabetic Foot Care Educator. "Reducing skin injuries, pressure from ill-fitting shoes and sock toe seams, plus excess moisture is a tall order for any pair of socks. But SmartKnit socks do the job. There are no other diabetic socks on the market like them."

SmartKnit Diabetic Socks are available at the Diabetic Sock Store in high-tech CoolMax or X-STATIC silver fibers. CoolMax fibers wick away moisture to keep the feet dry and comfortable. An antibacterial finish on the sock also helps prevent bacteria growth and odor. X-STATIC silver fibers act as a natural antimicrobial and antifungal, which keeps the feet more hygienic and reduces odor. SmartKnit Diabetic Socks are also available in a variety of styles, including mini-crew, crew, over-the-calf and wide, with color selections of white, black, grey, and navy.

Along with wearing SmartKnit Diabetic Socks, diabetics should also implement a daily foot care routine. The precautions below are recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to help prevent complications. Call your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in your feet, no matter how minor.

* Check your feet daily for "hot spots", infected nails, etc.
* Always keep your feet clean. Wash them with a mild soap and dry them well before putting on your socks and shoes to inhibit bacteria growth.
* Keep your toenails trimmed by following the natural curve of your toe. If you're unable to trim them yourself, have your foot specialist trim them for you.
* Wear clean socks every day and pull or roll them on gently. Make sure your socks are not too large or small and that there are no holes or bunched areas that could rub your foot wrong.

Care Sox Plus

Diabetic Socks Review: Socks for larger legs and feet.

Care Sox® Plus are designed for people with larger legs and feet. Basically, a lot of diabetic's have problems finding socks that are large enough to fit their legs and feet, but do not fall down around their ankles causing bunching and rubbing.

Care Sox® Plus diabetic socks stretch up to 25” in circumference. They also have a light amount of padding on the bottoms for people who have worn fat pads on the bottoms of their feet, or who just want a little bit of extra padding. These socks are also made out of CoolMax® moisture wicking fibers. These high-tech fibers are a lot better than cotton because they absorb moisture, and then wick it away from the skin to the exterior of the sock where it can evaporate.

Recommendations:
I would recommend this sock to anyone who is looking for a larger sock. I would also say that when ordering, make sure to order your shoe size, DO NOT go up a size. I’ve noticed that a lot of people are used to ordering socks 1-2 sizes bigger than their shoe size because of their legs and feet are larger. This sock is designed for larger legs and feet and is sized appropriately for that characteristic.

SmartKnit® Seamless Diabetic Socks

Diabetic Socks Review

The SmartKnit® Seamless Diabetic Socks claim to protect the feet from diabetic ulcers, form-fit like a second skin, and contain no elastic band. They also claim to provide maximum moisture control.

Claim #1 “Seam-free socks protect the feet by helping reduce the risk of skin irritations and diabetic foot ulcers.”

Studies done show that seams do apply pressure to the foot and because of circulation problems; seam-free socks are best for diabetics. The SmartKnit Diabetic Socks are completely seam-free. This design, I would think, should help reduce the problems with blisters and ulcers. They are also definitely very comfortable. I never really noticed seams before, but after trying this product I can really tell the difference.

Claim #2 “Patented form-fitting design fits like a second skin”

The socks are made from a method of knitting called “core spun”. It is this knitting technique, combined with the hi-bulk acrylic fibers, which give this sock its form-fit. The sock fits snugly around the foot, but isn’t too tight. There’s actually a special technique for putting on these socks. When putting them on, adjust the heal first to make sure it is fitting in the proper place, then pull the sock up, finally pull the sock at the front away from the toes until it snaps back to fit.

The fibers made to use this product are very soft and don’t really feel like cotton. You can definitely tell that there is some stretchy fibers mixed in. This sock is pretty thin and could be compared to a dress sock, maybe even a really thin athletic sock. One of the negative’s is it only comes in white…but in the SmartKnit® X-STATIC style it is available in black, navy, and grey.

Claim #3 “No binding elastic band at the top”

They’re correct. There is definitely no binding top. The designers of this sock call the top a “halo top”. It’s a pretty interesting design really. Basically when you first get the sock there is almost a coating on the top. You stretch out the top of the sock with your hands until you feel a cracking sound, it actually kind of sounds like the sock is breaking. It’s not. After you put the sock on and pull it up that “halo top” creates a small roll, which provides enough compression to keep the sock up…but doesn’t leave any indentions.

This “halo top” does work to keep the sock up. You need to make sure that you have the correct size because if the heel doesn’t fit in the right place…the sock will start to slip down. Also, I noticed that if you accidentally put this sock on inside out, (it’s easy to mistake because there are no seams) the sock will fall down.

Claim #4 “Maximum Moisture Control”

Cotton used to be the standard in moisture absorption for clothing. Now, high-tech fibers like Dupoint’s CoolMax are actually designed and engineered to provide maximum moisture-wicking. Basically moisture-wicking means that the sock fibers not only absorb the moisture, but they also help to wick the moisture away from the skin to the exterior of the fiber where it can evaporate. Moisture wicking fibers scientifically control moisture at least 5 times better than natural cotton fibers.

It’s really cool stuff. If you were to get the socks wet with a colored water, and then look at them through a microscope, you would actually be able to see the moisture moving to the outside of the sock. That’s moisture-wicking. I was already familiar with moisture-wicking before I tried out these socks. I definitely wouldn’t buy any socks made out of cotton anymore.

FINAL EVALUATION

These SmartKnit® Seamless Diabetic Socks are definitely designed for diabetics. They are a little expensive…but they definitely will work to protect your feet. I give them an A- Rating.

What are Diabetic Socks?

Diabetic Socks are the first layer provide the first layer of diabetic foot care protection, but not all diabetic socks are designed specifically for diabetics.

There are a lot of different socks that are labeled "diabetic socks". Unfortunately many of these products can actually be harmful to diabetics.

Watch Out for Tube Socks and Diabetic Socks with Seams.
Bulky "tube" socks and socks with large seams can create painful pressure points, which often lead to blisters and foot ulcers.

Stay Away from Cotton Diabetic Socks.
Traditional cotton socks are also not recommended for diabetics because they absorb moisture, but do not wick it away from the feet. Basically that means cotton does work to absorb the moisture caused by sweating, but does nothing to help get the moisture away from the foot. That means the socks stays moist most of the day, which doesn't help keep feet hygenic. The newer moisture-wicking fibers such as CoolMax, actually wick the moisture up the sock, away from the skin, where it can evaporate.

Avoid Diabetic Socks with Elastic Bands at the Top.
Many times diabetic socks contain binding elastic bands at the top to help keep the sock up. Many diabetic foot care professionals actually pull out their scissors and cut the elastic tops off of socks. Anytime an elastic band binds the leg enough to create an indention mark, it is too tight.